Al Woods Photo

So looking at the bird box this afternoon, I noticed that she had finally laid some eggs. I think I can see six at the moment. Not sure if she will lay any more, because I have witnessed up to a dozen eggs in a Blue Tit nest before. I am so glad, especially after last year when they seemed to abandon the nest. It looks like she is hiding the eggs every time she leaves the nest. Since they lay eggs at the rate of one per day, it would seem that these eggs have been there several days and I just haven't seen them. The eggs will take about two weeks to hatch.  

I watched something quite amazing this morning on NASA Live Streams. The SpaceX vehicle Dragon was about to dock with the international space station. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing really. This was a view of the space station from the camera on-board the Dragon docking vehicle. The quality of the video was just awesome. This is a still I took from the video showing the SpaceX astronauts at their command console. The space station cameras capture the SpaceX Dragon approaching against the back-drop of the Earth. Another view from another of the space station's cameras. You can see the Dragon in the distance. The Dragon gets closer and closer, edging its way cautiously towards the awaiting space station. Almost there! Just another few metres. Until finally the Dragon is in the docking position. What an amazing couple of hours viewing.  

Well there's no eggs yet, just lots of tweaking of the nest. The female does spend a lot more time in there now. The male is never far away and you can hear his 'chunnering' call all the time. Sometimes, one of them will break into song and its really lovely to hear.  

  The ever present danger for the small birds in the garden. This female Sparrow Hawk knows exactly where to wait for a quick lunch.  Another week on with the nesting Blue Tits. They continue to add material to the nest, mostly softer fluffy stuff like feathers. They have managed to dodge the Sparrow Hawk up to now. Here's hoping they get to the egg laying stage.

 Another week brings more nest building for the Blue Tits. Not completed yet, but getting there! Feathers have started to appear now as they start on the soft lining. I think another week and we will be getting close to egg laying, providing we get some warmer weather!

I spotted this beautiful Camelia in the corner of the garden today. The last couple of days we've had glorious weather. It won't last and it is due to change again tomorrow. Birds are nesting everywhere! The sun shining on the plumage of this Starling created a stunning iridescence. The smaller birds need to be aware of the Sparrow Hawk continually on patrol! They are always about above the gardens. Whenever we venture into the garden we are immediately accompanied by a Robin going through its full repertoire of songs. The Blue Tits continue with the nest building. So just one week on and it looks like the nest is nearing completion. I have noticed that the male is fiercely defensive of the female, attacking the likes of Sparrows that get near her. This is different from last year where we think he was a little too young.